craft

The first draft of a novel needs consistency and continuity: the more the better the novel will be. Mind-maps offer a way to gain that consistency. What if you knew how to create mind-maps to ensure that consistency? And that continuity? What if you had a way to make sure your characters...

Would you like to write a book that no one can put down? The writing so crisp that the words jump out of the page? If this is your dream, then this course is for you. Some books are hard to put down. The reader will be absorbed in the plot and with the characters. Award winning author L. C...

Are you seeking a coach and mentor who listens? Doesn't squash your writing style? And who provides positive, constructive feedback to meet your goals? As a certified coach with a background in education and over a decade of working with writers, my goal is to offer you an individualized...

Want to take your manuscript from good to great? A few simple things can help your story shine and stand out from the pack. Our goals for this workshop: · Cut wordiness to make your manuscript clearer and more readable. · Check for other grammatical sins like excessive sentence...

Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow What best sells your next book? The ending of your previous book! A satisfying ending ties together all the pieces of your novel - the character arcs, the relationship arcs, the plot, the carefully...

Villains are a lot like heroes: They are active, powerful, dynamic, and capable of change. They're just, you know, bad. And you have to give your villains a little love to make them a worthy opponent for your actual heroic characters. In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss a few...

What's your favorite heat level for your books? Steamy or super-hot? Or maybe you'd rather leave the details behind closed doors. There's nothing wrong with showing everything or keeping it all under wraps. But you can still stir the reader's emotions while leaving some things under the covers...

Do you have trouble with telling the reader the story instead of showing it? If so, join the crowd. This is one of the most common mistakes in writing. But there’s hope. In this two week workshop, I will Show you how to tell which mode you’re in Tell you how to fix the problem Show you how to...

This class focuses specifically on the middle of your story, the bulk of the action that takes place after the set-up and builds up until you reach your “disembarking point” and the book’s ending. How do you crank up conflict and emotion without writing yourself into a corner? How do you...

Not long ago my agent gave me what sounded like an impossible mission. Trim a 100,000+ word manuscript to under 90,000 words. That’s approximately 35 pages worth of words. Words I sweated to string together. Words I loved. “I think it will interest more editors at the shorter length,” my agent...

Eager to get more subscribers to your mailing list? Why not write a reader magnet? In this course, you’ll learn the different types of reader materials you can use to attract readers onto your newsletter list. We’ll outline strategies to find readers to draw to your magnet. And lastly, we’ll...

Award-winning editor Brenda Chin has worked in the romance industry for more than 32 years. Throughout her many years with Harlequin, she had the opportunity to work with some of the best writers in the business, often buying their first book. Brenda is offering her expertise to help authors go...

Award-winning editor Brenda Chin has worked in the romance industry for more than 32 years. Throughout her many years with Harlequin, she had the opportunity to work with some of the best writers in the business, often buying their first book. Brenda is offering her expertise to help authors go...

Award-winning editor Brenda Chin has worked in the romance industry for more than 32 years. Throughout her many years with Harlequin, she had the opportunity to work with some of the best writers in the business, often buying their first book. Brenda is offering her expertise to help authors go...

Award-winning editor Brenda Chin has worked in the romance industry for more than 32 years. Throughout her many years with Harlequin, she had the opportunity to work with some of the best writers in the business, often buying their first book. Brenda is offering her expertise to help authors go...

Award-winning editor Brenda Chin has worked in the romance industry for more than 32 years. Throughout her many years with Harlequin, she had the opportunity to work with some of the best writers in the business, often buying their first book. Brenda is offering her expertise to help authors go...

Award-winning editor Brenda Chin has worked in the romance industry for more than 32 years. Throughout her many years with Harlequin, she had the opportunity to work with some of the best writers in the business, often buying their first book. Brenda is offering her expertise to help authors go...

Readers are looking for more stories with "mature" characters (30 years old +). Learn how to create characters who have life experience and are perfect for all types of romances (all sub-genres of romance). Determining the age range and what character experiences might be How not to fall into...

What’s your story about? When people ask this question, they are interested in the concept behind it, the idea that makes it intriguing. They want an answer that raises questions and suggests possibilities. As a writer, you want these things, too. After all, if your story’s a novel, you’ll need...

Most people are familiar with Joseph Campbell's monomyth but have not heard of Maureen Murdock's Heroine's Journey. Murdock builds on the hero's journey and shows how it's different for the feminine. In this class, we will explore the nine steps as well as their similarities and differences to...